According to Mayo clinic throat cancer (Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal)refers to cancerous tumors that develop in your throat (pharynx), voice box (larynx) or tonsils.rnrnAccording to cancertrialshelp.org, Laryngeal cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers. In 2009, an estimated 12,290 adults (9,920 men and 2,370 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. It is estimated that 3,660 deaths (2,900 men and 760 women) from this disease will occur this year. According to scgcorp.com, in India alone nearly 80000 new cases of throat cancer are diagnosed annualy.

What Is Throat Cancer?

Throat cancer is the cancer of the throat. It is a type of head and neck cancer. The throat (pharynx) is a 5-inch-long tube which is muscular, membranous passageway going from the mouth & nose to the larynx and esophagus. The throat and the voice box are the two main places throat cancer forms.

Throat Cancer, a result of indiscriminate tobacco and alcohol usage, affects a person’s vocal cords, voice box and areas of the throat.Throat cancer can also affect epiglottis that acts as a lid for the windpipe.

According to tree.com, "This type of throat cancer begins in the glandular cells of the throat or tissues of glands or secretory cells. Secretory cells are cells that release a product, such as saliva, hormones or proteins."

While it is often linked to stomach cancer, vaginal cancer and cervical cancer, it can also be found in the throat.

When adenocarcinoma is present in the throat it is often linked to Barrett's Esophagus, a condition that causes a change in the cells that line the lower esophagus.

What Is Throat Cancer?

Accoding to cancercenter.com throat cancer includes several different cancers under the head and neck cancers. Laryngeal cancer and Pharyngeal cancer are two of the most common types of throat cancer.

Pharyngeal cancer is broken into three types:

Nasopharynx cancer ( in the upper part of the throat behind the nose)

Oropharynx cancer (in the middle part of the throat behind the tongue)

Hypopharynx cancer (forms in the bottom part of the throat above the food pipe).Laryngeal cancer refers to cancer that forms in the larynx, also known as the voice box.

Laryngeal Cancer Comprises of

Glottic cancer is the cancer of the vocal chords. Comprises of 59% of throat cancers

Supraglottic cancerAccording to Mayoclinic Supraglottic cancer begins in the upper portion of the larynx and includes cancer that affects the epiglottis, which is a piece of cartilage that blocks food from going into your windpipe.Supraglottic Cancer comprise of just 40% of throat cancers.

Subglottic Cancers: It forms just 1% of throat cancers, most subglottic masses are extension from glottic carcinomas.

*Inputs: Dr Anil Heroor, Oncologist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund

Risk Factors for Throat Cancer

Tobacco

Anyone consuming tobacco is vulnerable to oral cancer. People who smoke and chew tobacco and drink alcohol frequently will be highly susceptible.

Tobacco is also a risk factor for oral cancer, periodontal disease, and congenital defects in children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy.

Any form of smoking is linked to Throat Cancer – cigars, cigarettes, beedis, and pipes. Not only throat but tobacco can cause cancers of other parts of the body too, like lungs, bladders etc.

Smokeless or chewing tobacco is linked with cancers of the cheeks, gums, and inner surface of the lips.

Pregnant women need to keep away from both active and passive smoking. In case of houses who have cancer patients should keep away from any form of tobacco as they are more susceptible to different forms of throat cancer.

Risk Factors for Throat Cancer

Excessive AlcoholAlmost one third of patients who have throat cancer drinks alcohol frequently. The chances of getting throat cancer increases with excessive usage of alcohol. According to emedicinehealth.com people who drink alcohol frequently are six times more likely to get throat cancer.

When acid leaks from the stomach into the esophagus, it causes acid reflux or gastric reflux. Chronic acid reflux is called GERD, and increases throat cancer risk.

What Is Throat Cancer?

Diagnosis

Your doctor will start with basic questions about your symptoms, followed by physical examination and tests to get a clear view of the right location of the problem.During endoscopy, the upper portion of the GT (gastrointestinal tract) and respiratory tract are viewed using endoscopes, which are long, thin and flexible tubes equipped with a tiny video camera and light on the end.

The endoscope is used to look at areas in the throat and respiratory tract that cannot be seen during a physical exam.

If abnormalities are found, your doctor may ask you get a biopsy, where through a surgical instrument a tissue sample is collected and send to the lab for testing. The sample is sent to a laboratory for testing.

Your doctor may later ask you to get a CT and an MRI for additional information.

StaginginThroat Cancer

Once throat cancer is diagnosed, the next step is to determine the stage of the throat cancer. This helps in the course of treatment. The stages of throat cancer vary from I through IV.

Treatment Of Throat Cancer

Once the stage of throat cancer is confirmed the doctor will decide a line of treatment that may include Surgery and radiation therapy.

Surgery is very common in all stages of throat cancer, and can have a curative effect in the early stages.

Surgery can be as simple as using laser therapy to remove cancerous tissue, to more aggressive surgical approaches in case of large cabcerous tumors.

Small tumors are easy to remove, but in case of large tumors that have spread to surrounding areas, this will involve removal of other parts of the throat involving the mouth, jaw or the voice box, This can also affect the persons ability to speak, chew, swallow and even breathe.

Radiation for Throat Cancer Patients

Radiation therapy is given as a primary treatment, as well as sometimes after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells or to remove cancerous tissue that could not be removed during surgery.

Some people with throat cancer may undergo chemotherapy to treat the disease. It is normally prescribed in conjunction with other treatment methods, like surgery and/or radiation therapy.

Throat cancer is the cancer of the throat. It is a type of head and neck cancer. The throat (pharynx) is a 5-inch-long tube which is muscular, membranous passageway going from the mouth & nose to the larynx and esophagus. The throat and the voice box are the two main places throat cancer forms.

Throat Cancer, a result of indiscriminate tobacco and alcohol usage, affects a person’s vocal cords, voice box and areas of the throat.Throat cancer can also affect epiglottis that acts as a lid for the windpipe.